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Understanding that sports
are one of the most important characteristics of children’s overall
development, Stairs has introduced the Hockey for Growth programme. The NGO, which focuses on empowerment of
underprivileged children, has got former Indian hockey team captain and now
member of parliament Dilip Tirkey to endorse and support the programme.

The idea is primarily
to encourage underprivileged children to engage in sports, and it is also expected
to play a role in finding and nurturing talented hockey players in an effort to regain
the lost glory of Indian hockey.

 

The first phase of the
programme has started in Odisha, where Stairs has identified 400 hockey players and
presented them with professional hockey sticks as a first step.

 

‘There is immense craze for hockey in Odisha. There
are many places in the interiors of the state where youngsters make their own
hockey sticks by bending bamboo shoot, binding it on one end for the curve and
heating it over fire. However, many of these children never really get to
explore or nurture their talent for lack of funds, training and infrastructure.
I am sure the Hockey for Growth programme will provide these young hockey
enthusiasts proper opportunities and exposure,’ said Tirkey, who has also joined the advisory board of Stairs to ensure
effective implementation of the programme.  

‘Odisha has produced some of the world’s best hockey
players. With Stairs’ Hockey for Growth programme, I am positive that hockey
will soon witness a resurgence,’ said Surjya Narayan Patro, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, while
presiding over the Hockey sticks distribution programme.

 

Siddhartha Upadhyay, founder and general
secretary, Stairs, said, ‘Hockey for Growth is our humble contribution to take
the game to the interiors of the country and revive it. A sport is a tool that
connects the youth with the rest of the country. Since Odisha has been a
breeding ground of world-class hockey players, we found it appropriate state to
flag off the mission from here. Gangpur and its surrounding areas have produced
numerous Olympians and international hockey players, and now with Stairs joining
hands with Dilip Tirkey, the reach is expected to extend even deeper in the
rural areas.’